NBC’s Marlon Wayans comedy series Marlon launched with a 1.3 rating – the highest rating among 11 new or returning scripted series on the Big 4 this summer. Compared to NBC’s time-slot demo average this summer, Marlon measured 63% better.

CBS’ housemates-from-hell reality series Big Brother couldn’t keep pace with Talent in the 8 PM hour (1.8 vs 2.1), though it hung on to its week-ago stat despite the tougher NBC competition.

ABC’s three-hour CMA Music Festival could not catch NBC’s lineup for the night, but was in line with last year in the demo (1.2) and gained 2% in total viewers (5.7 million) to clock its biggest crowd in three years. Moving up to take the lead at 9 PM after Big Brother and Talent wrapped, the show ranked No. 1 in each half-hour from 9-11 PM in both metrics. Overall, CMA Fest generated ABC’s biggest summertime non-sports-oriented audience on the night in nearly seven years and equaled its best adult 18-49 rating in more than three years.